BIRMINGHAM, Ala. -  The Birmingham-Southern volleyball team advances to 3-0 in conference play, after their 3-1 win over Millsaps College. Gigi Fields had a career high 19 kills in the match. 

The first set started off with back to back kills from Alyssa Coats to give the Panthers the lead 2-0. After a kill from the Majors, the Panthers went on a 7 point run with 3 kills from Gigi Fields and a kill from Leah Nielsen. Birmingham-Southern advanced their lead 10-2. The Majors pushed back and went on a 6 point run to tighten up the set 16-15.  Kills from Leah Nielsen and Alyssa Coats, as well as an ace from Ansleigh Dailey pushed the Panthers back to their lead 21-15. Three kills in a row from Gigi Fields ended the match 25-19. 

Millsaps came out strong in the second set, taking the early lead 6-2. A kill from Alyssa Coats and two errors by the Majors brought the Panthers back up to a one point deficit, Majors still leading 8-7. Two more kills from Alyssa Coats tied the set at 14-14.  Millsaps and Birmingham-Southern fought back and forth for the next few points, before the Panthers took the 19-17. A service error from Millsaps gave the Panthers set point and an attacking error sealed the win for the Panthers, 25-21.
 
The third set was a battle for the two teams as Millsaps took the first point of the set. Trading out points, Birmingham-Southern tied it up at 9-9 with a kill from Gigi Fields. Millsaps went on a 5 point run to take the lead back 14-9. Still continuing to fight, the Panthers held the Majors at set point twice before ultimately falling 25-22. 
 
Birmingham-Southern took the fourth set right away with a 3-0 lead to start it off. Kills from Kennedy Dickens and Alyssa Coats got the Panthers an even further 8-2 lead. Another kill from Alyssa Coats and back to back aces from Kennedy Dickens, allowed the Panthers to go on a 5 point run to make it 13-4. Not giving up their lead, back to back aces for Ansleigh Dailey advances Birmingham-Southern to a 18-5 lead over the Majors. Keeping up with their aces, Alyssa Coats had two more to add to make the lead 22-8. Two kills from Gigi Fields gave the Panthers match point, then taking the set 25-11. 

Words from student-athletes


Words from Head Coach Haven O'Quinn
Her thoughts on the at home win: "We just talked about how we have two tough weekends on the road and our travel partner in between so it is a long, tough week. I know that can be mentally and emotionally draining, it's just rigorous. So I was very proud of how we played, we had some setbacks but overall we had control of that match."

On the fourth set: "I think we moved the ball behind the service line to their passers a lot better. We were kind of serving right at them so we talked about it and I think they made a really good change in moving them forward and trying to serve more corners. I also think our net play picked up. We started blocking and before, I did not think that was happening as often. The two things helped us with set four." 

Records
Birmingham-Southern 8-4 Overall (3-0 SAA), Millsaps 5-5 Overall (0-3 SAA)
 
SET Summary 
SET ONE: 25-19 Birmingham-Southern
SET TWO: 25-21 Birmingham-Southern
SET THREE: 25-22 Millsaps
SET FOUR: 25-11 Birmingham-Southern

News and Notes 
> Leah Nielsen had a season 6 six total blocks
> Ansleigh Dailey tied her season record with 4 aces
> Kate Powell tied her season record with 21 digs
> The team had a total of 10 aces

Up next
The Birmingham-Southern volleyball team will travel to Memphis, Tenn. on Saturday, Sept. 25 to play Rhodes at 12 p.m.